Folding carriage.



No. 890,253. PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908.

' O. N. TURNER- FOLDING CARRIAGE.- APPLICATION FI-LBD 0014, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 890,253. PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908.

0. N. TURNER.

FOLDING CARRIAGE. APPLICATION FILED 00.4, 1997.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED srnrns PATENT oFFIoE;

ORA N ORCROSS TURNER, OF TEMPLETON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO BAY STATE METAL WHEEL COMPANY, OF EAST TEMPLETON MASSA(JHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- OHUSETTS.

FOLDING CARRIAGE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'June e, 1908.

Application filed October 4, 1907. Serial No. 395,912.

ments in Folding Carriages, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to baby carriages or perambulators so-called', adapted to be folded into compact form when not in use, and particularly to that class of folding perambuators in which two wheel-carrying frames seat-supporting are hinged or pivoted to. the frame, each wheel-carrying frame extending lengthwise of the carriage, and being adapted to be retracted by swinging inwardly under the seat frame, and to be projected by swing ing outwardly from the seat frame into posi-- tion for use The invention has for its-object to provide improved means for swinging the wheelcarrying frames to project and retraot the sanie, and improved means for locking the wheel-carrying frames when they are in their projected or operative positions.

The invention consists in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim. v

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 represents a side elevation of aperambulator embodying my invention, in its extended positio ready for.use.

Fig. 2 represents a evation showing the perambulator Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.; Fig. 51 represents a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the chief novel parts. of the struoture. Fig. 5 represents a fragmentary sectional view. Fig. 6 represents a fragmentary end elevation side e ookmg from the rear end of the carriage. represents 'a partial sideelevation Fig. 7 showing a modification. 7 Y j The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings a represents the main orseat-sup'porting'frame of a folding carriage, towhich is affixed the seat a. The frame preferably includes two longitudinalparallel side bars a shown in cross section in Fig. 3, anal suitable connecting cross bars a. The en downwardly-projecting arms a to which are connected by pivot bolts 6, two wheel-sup porting frames c.

' causes a quarter rotation portions of the frame are provided with,

Each Wheel-supporting frameis preferably composedv of flat metal bars, which include a longitudinal member 0 extending substantially parallel with the seat-frame; and b1? okets c projecting downwardly from the longitudinal member 0- when the carriage is extended for use, said brackets having eyes or sockets which engageaXle arms d, on which the-wheels d are journaled. The. pivot bolts 6 b are substantially in alinement'with the longitudinal bars. 0, the arrangement of the said parts being such that eachof the wheel frames is adapted to stand in a plane substantially at right angles with the seat frame when thecarriage 18 in its operative adjustment, as shown in *ig. 1, and is ada ted to be swung inwardly toward the seat ame,

may be folded, as indicated inFlg. 2;

Each of the longitudinal bars 0. is provided With a spiral inclined plane 0 which in this embodiment of my invention is formed by ir'nparting a quarter twist to the fiat bar 0 as clearly shown in Fig. 4. This spiral inclined plane isin eflect a screw, which cooperates with a member which is adapted to slide on the bar. 0, and is, in effect a nut which when moved upon the .screw portion 0 of the longitudinal bar a, andthus acts to swing the wheel-supporting frame about one-quarter ofa complete rotation, the arrangement being'such that the movement thus 'nn 'arted to the wheel supporting frame is su cient to move it from the operative position, shown in Fig. 1, to the inoperative position shown in Fig. 2, when the nut is moved in one direction, and from the folded position shown in Fig. 2, to the operative position, showniu Fig. 1, when the nut is moved in the opposite direction. The nuts on the two cross bars 0 are connected to move in unison, the preferred construction andconnection of the nuts being as follows: I

e 6 represent metal yokes, formed bybend ing a blank offiat metal into 'an inverted 'U- shape, the yokes bestriding the longitudinal bars 0, as shown in Fig. 4, the connecting or neck portions of the yokes bearing on the flat so that the carriagesides of the bar- 0, while their end portions project across the edges of said bars;

'e ,represents a cross bar, which extends from-one yoke e to the other, the end ortions e of said bar passing through or' ces formedfor their reception in the end portions of the yoke e, and bearing against the 65 carriage cannot be fol iiat'un'der sides of the bars-c. The nuts thus formed are adapted to slide freely upon the bars c, and conform so closely to the cross section of said bars that each nut in movingupon-the screw portion 0 will impart a partial rotation to the bar 0 and the wheel frame of which it forms a part. Means areprovidedfor moving the said nutsin unison, the preferred means being two levers]; pivoted at f to ears 9 affixed to the seatsupporting frame, and links 7:, h connecting the shorter arms of said .levers with the ends 6 of thecross bar 6 1 When the levers f are moved from the position shown in Fig- 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, they move the nuts upon the screw portions of the wheel frames, and thus swing the wheel frames inwardlyto their retracted osition. are moved bac wardly from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 1, the nuts, travel in the opposite direction along the screw portions 0 and thereby cause an outward swinging or projecting movement of the wheelframes to their operative posi-' tion shown in Fig. 1.

' The described movements of the levers f are preferably efiected by means of. a handle 'i, which is U-shaped, and pivoted at its ends i to ears j on the rear end of the seat-sup- 30 porting frame. The handle is connected with the longer arms of the levers f by arms is, which are ivoted at 7c to the handle, and v at k toth'e onger'arms of the levers]: It will be seen by a comparison of Figs. 1 and 2 that when the handle is swung forward over the seat frame to fold the carriage, it causes the abo ve-described action of the lever'j; in retractin the wheels, and when the handle is swung back to the position shown in Fig. l, 40

in projecting the wheels. L

The screw portions 0 have different longitudinal adjustments, as indicated in Fig. 4, so that the nut on one of the bars 0 acts on the corresponding screw before'the coopera-. tion of the other nut and screw commences. The ob'ect of this arrangement is to cause the wheel ames to be retracted and projected successively, the wheel frame on one side being folded inwardly before the wheel frame on the opposite side, so that there is no conflict between the two wheels when they are being retracted, the same general statement being true of the outward swinging or projecting movement of. the wheel frames.

m m represent tog le linkswhich are jointed together at m, t e. link we being j ointed at m to the handle i, while the link m is jointed at r n to the arm is. When said links are in alinement with each other, as shown in Fig. 1, they constitute a brace or strut,

' which locks. the handle i, the levers f and the nutsconnected therewith, with the wheel frames in their PIOjGCtGddPOSltlOIl, so that the ed and the wheel When the levers it causes the described action of the leversf frames retracted, until the links m m are thrown out, of a-linement with each other, as shown in Fig. 2.

The, described screw andnut mechanism for -retracting and projecting. the wheel frames, isextremely simple and compact in construction, and efficient in operation. I do not limit myself, however, to the details of the said screw and nut mechanism here shown, it bein obvious that any construction whereby ti with spiral inclined lanes or screws with which are engaged s idable nuts-- connected withoperating mechanism on the seat frame, will be no departure from the spirit of my invention.

The carriage may be provided with a suitable back 0, a foot rest 1) and other parts which may be necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes for which the carriage is intended. -I do not describe said parts in detail, because they are not claimed herein as new or as necessarily connected with the present invention.

, It will be seen that the links h connecting the levers f with the nuts on the wheel-carr v ing frames, are adapted to swing vertically when the levers are moved in the folding and opening movements of the carriage, the links being pivoted at their ends both to the levers f and to the nuts. The links therefore constitute a flexible indirect connection between the levers and the nuts, and permit the levers and the portions of the seat frame awith which they are connected, to move vertically independently of the nuts and wheelcarryi'ng frames. The seat-carrying frame may therefore be made'of resilient constru'c tion, so that its side bars a? may constitute springs 'which give an easymotion to the seat, the seat being ada ted to rise and fall by the flexure of the siile bars of the seatsupporting frame without in any way interfering with the connection between the levers f and the nuts. The ears (1 at the rear end of the seat-supporting frame are preferably connected with the central portion of the rear end of the frame, as shown in Fig. 6. The ends of the rear end cross bar of the seatsupporting frame overhang the ears a, as shown in Fig. 6', and are resilient so that they yieldingly support the rear ends of the side bars a Provision is thus made for giying the seat a desirablespring support entirely by the construction of the frame a, no separatesprings being required.

In P ig. 7 I show the side bars of the handle provided with extensions i projecting below the pivots i which connect the handle bars to the ears j, said extensions 7? being 'connected by links h.with the ends e of the cross bar 6 so that movement is communicated to the nuts directly from the handle, instead of through the agency of the .arms and levers f, the action of the nuts on the e wheel frames are provided screws being the same as that already de scribed. In this embodiment of the invention, the side bars of the handle are the equivalent of the levers ff in the organization shown in Fig. 1. Each of the described embodiments of'the invention, therefore, has levers fulcrumed on the seat frame, and adapted to swing thereon, and means for imparting swinging movements from the levers to the wheel frames for the purpose of retracting and projecting the latter I claim:

1. In a folding carriage, the combination of a seat-frame, wheel-carrying frames pivoted thereto, and adapted to swmg laterally to retract and project the wheels, each wheelcarrying frame having a screw, and means connected with the seatframe for acting on the said screws to retract and project the wheels.

2. In a folding carriage, the combination of a seat-frame,wheel carryin frames pivot ed thereto, and adapted to swing laterally to retract and project the wheels, each wheelcarrying frame having a screw, nuts movable on said screws to retract and project the wheels, and sans carried by the seat-frame for moving said nuts.

3. In a folding carriage, the combination of a seat-frame, wheel-carryin frames pivoted thereto, and adapted to swing laterally to retract and project the wheels, each wheelcarrying frame havin a screw, levers ful-r crumed on the seatame, and nuts con nected with the said levers and movable on the screws to retract and pro'ect the wheels.

4. In a folding carriage,t e combination of a seat frame, wheel-carryin frames pivoted 'thereto,and adapted to swing laterally to retract and project the wheels, each wheelcarrying frame having a screw, levers fulcrumed on the seat frame, nuts adapted to enga e said screws to retract and project the wheels, and links connecting the nuts with the levers.

5. In a folding carriage, the combination of a seat-frame, wheel-carrying frames pivoted thereto, and adapted to swing laterally to retract and project the wheels, each wheelcarrying frame having a screw, levers fulcrumed on the seat-frame, nuts connected with the levers and movable by the'latter on the screws to retract and pro'ect the wheels, and means for locking said l nuts in their wheel-projecting position.

6. In a folding carriage, the combination of a seat frame, wheel-carrying frames pivoted-thereto, and adaptedto swlng laterally to retract and project the wheels, each wheelcarrying frame havinga screw, levers fulcrumed on the seat frame, nuts connected with the levers, and movable by the latter on evers with the the screws, to retract and project the wheels, a handle pivoted to the seat frame, arms pivoted at their end, portions to the handle and to the levers, and toggle links connecting the handle with the arms, and adapted tolock the handle arms and levers, with the nuts in their wheel-projecting position. 7. In a folding carriage, the combination of a seat frame, wheel-carr 'ng frames pivoted thereto, each having a ongitudinal mem-.

her which is twisted to form a screw, a cross bar having yokes on its end ortions, the said yokes and end portionsorming nuts which embrace said members, and are-movable thereon, levers fulcrumed on the seat frame, and links connecting the levers with said cross bar. 7 7

8. In a folding carriage, the combination of a seat frame, wheel-carrying frames pivoted thereto, each having a screw, nuts movable on said screws to retract and project the wheels, and means for moving said nuts, the

relative arran ement of the screws and the nuts being suc that the Wheel frames are re-' tracted and projected successively.

.9. ,In a folding carriage, the combmation of a seat frame, wheel-carrying frames pivoted thereto, each having a screw, nuts movable on said screws to retract and project the wheels, and means for moving'said nuts, the screws having differentlongitudinalpositions, while the nuts are in transverse alineme'nt, whereby the wheel frames are retractedand projected successively.

10. In a folding carriage, the combination of a seat frame of resilient construction, wheel-carrying frames pivoted thereto, each having a screw, nuts movable on said screws to retract and project the Wheels,levers pivot ed on the seat-supporting frame, and flexible connections between the levers and the nuts, whereby the seat-supporting frame is adapted to spring vertically independently of the nuts and wheel-carrying frame.

11. Ina folding carriage, the combination of a seat frame of resllient construction, wheel-carrying frames pivoted thereto, each having a screw, nuts movable on said screws to retract and project the :wheels, levers ivoted on the seat-supporting frame, and inks pivoted to thelower ends of said levers and to the said nuts, said links being adapted to swing vertically, and to permit a vertical movement ofthe seat frame and levers indeendently of the nuts and the wheel-carrying rames. I

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

, ORA NORCROSS TURNER. Witnesses:

FRANK B. 'EDGELL, JOHN A. BARNES. 

